Curb form



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 F. TORRELLI CURB FORM www wwh.. -J1

Sept; 23, 1952 Filed Aug. 14, 1950 MM s INVENTOR.

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l CURB FORM 2`sx-1EETs-SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1950 Patented Sept. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CURB FORM Frank Torrelli, Buffalo, N. Y. Application August 14, 1950, Serial No. 179,147

(c1. afs-'118)' Claims.

This invention relates to forms or molds for the construction of poured concrete curbs and particularly to such forms as are madein sections Which may be keasily and conveniently assembled to permit the construction of curbs of and are easily stripped from the curb when the concrete thereof has set.

Another object of the invention is to provide in sectional forms for the construction of ccncrete curbs improved and novel means for retaining the form sections in position against lateral displacement.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved division plate for separating the poured concrete curb into lengths to allow for expansion and contraction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved means for alining and joining the ends of the plates used in forms of the character described.

A still further object of the invention is to provide sectional forms for concrete curbs which are of rugged, durable construction and are inexpensive to maintain.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: j

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view through an assembled form constructed in accordance with the present invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, top. plan view of a form assembled as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of a form assembled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view taken on the line 4`4fof Fig. 1 showing in detail the means employed for clamping together the vertical front and rear members of the form;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a rear vertical form member; A

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a vertical lower front form member; Fig. 7 is a perspective View form member;.

Fig. 8vis a perspective viewof a tie used to fasten the vertical form members together;

Figs. 9 and 10 areA perspective views, respectively, of a pin and a wedge which are used with the ties shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view oi.' a division and of an upper front spacing plate employed in constructing forms according to the present invention;

Fig. 12 is a perspective View of a stake holder bracket used with the lower front form members;

and z Figs. 13 and 14 are perspective views, respectively,A of a U-clamp and a block employedl in holding the upper front form members in posi-.- tion against the division plates. l

The 'concrete form shown in Figs. l, 2-and 3 of the drawings is designed for use in the .construction of curbs for streets, roads and the like. The forms compose a mold adapted to rest on the ground and having an open bottom and top. The two sides of the curb are molded by one or more form sections which are designed to be joined end to end.

Eachv section of the form. comprises as principal elements three rails, which are preferably sheet steel channel members. Ineach form section the rear face of the curb, i. e. the side away from the road or street, is molded against a single upright horizontal rail 2U. On the front,

each form section comprises a lower horizontal' rail 2| that also is preferablyr upright and an upper horizontal rail 22 which rests on the rail f 2| and is preferably inclined rearwardly.

The rear or back rail 20 comprises a web 23 having longitudinal top and bottom lateral anges 24 and 25, respectively. The outer edge of each of the flanges is preferably turned inwardly, as shown at 2B and 21, to provide additional strength and rigidity to the channel member 20. An end block 3| issecured, by suitable means such as welding, within the channels formed between the inturned Aedges 2E and 121 of the flanges 24 and 25 and the web 23 at one end of each of the rails 2t. VEach of the blocks 3| has a portion projecting longitudinally from the end of the rail 22, the outer end of the projecting portion being provided with bevelled edges 32 and 33 which facilitate its entrance into the end of an abutting channel member 2D.

At spaced intervals along the top andr bottom lateral flanges 24 and 25 of each of the rails 20 there are provided vertically alined holes 34 through which there may be passed a spike or stake 3E having a sharpened lower end 31 which may be driven into the ground to anchor the rails 20 in upright position against horizontal displacement.

Each of the lower front channel members 2| is of similar construction to the back rail 20, havingL a web 42 and longitudinal top and bottom outwardly projecting lateral flanges 43 and `44.

3 The edges it and lll, respectively, of the flanges 43 and l are turned inwardly and preferably alined with each other parallel to the web 42. Each of the rails 2l is also provided at one end with an end block 48 similar to the blocks 3|, the outwardly extending portion of which is provided with bevelled edge portions 5S and 56. As with the back channel members 2|), the protruding portionsof the end blocks 48 fit into the ends of. abutting channel members 2l and maintain them in alignment. Unlike the back channel member 2U, however, the front rail 2| is not provided with holes through the horizontal flanges 43 and 44 to receive anchoring stakes,

but is fastened to the ground in thedesired Alocation by stakes or spikes 35 which pass through stake holder brackets or fittings' 52.

Each of the brackets 52 comprises a face plate 53 which is preferably provided with -integral, rearwardly projecting, vertical flanges 5s on each side thereof. In .the top and bottom of Veach of the anges E there is provided .a transverse notch` or groove 55. The notches 55 are arranged in the same plane and, as best shown in Fig..1, are adapted to slidably engage the inwardly turned edges/l5 and 4l of the flanges i3 and lill, respectively, of the lower front rail 2l. On the front of the face plate 53 there is formed a protruding, vertically disposed, elongated, rigid loop orsemi-circular barrel-56 .adapted .to receive a stake. or spikef36. rJhe stake holder brackets 52 may be mounted on the rails 2l for slidable, longitudinal movement thereon.

The front-surface of the concrete curb according to the present invention is preferably formed .with a rearwardly inclined top portion. vThe mold for this portion of the front surface is provided by the upper front channel members or rails 22 each of which is of generally similar form to the rails 2,6 and 2| and has aweb 58, longitudinal top and bottom outwardly projectinglateral flanges 53 and 6G, thevedgesjSZ and 63,.respectively, of which are preferably turned inwardly in opposed facing relation, and Vend ,blocksl similar to the blocks 3| andlS. The ,bottoms yof thechannel-members- .22 rest on the tops of the lower front rails 2| Vand the rails 22 are supported in the desired inclined position by division and spacing plates E56 which are `placed transverselyA between the front and rear channels or rails at regular intervals.

Each of the division plates 66 is preferably formed 4of sheet metal of substantial lthickness so as to be stiff and resist bendingand the main portion of each plate is shaped Vas a rectangle with ,the upper front edge being,` bevelled, as best shown at 5l in Fig. l1, at the angle desired for the inclined top of the curb. The length and .width of the rectangle are the same as the height The blocks 'll are preferably rigidly attached,y

as by welding, to the plates 66.

Each of the back rails 2l)A is provided at' intervals along its length with a plurality of slots 'i4 in the lower portion of the web 23 thereof, the slots 14 being arranged in vertically disposed pairs. In like fashion each of the lower front rails 2| is provided with similar slots 1B which are arranged and spaced so that each may be laterally alined with one of the slots I4 in the rail 2U. Ties TS are employed to hold the back rails 20 and the lower front rails 2| in place in spaced relationship determined by the width of the transverse division plates interposed between. the rails.

Each ofthe lties 'I8 is'formed as an elongated rod or bar, one end of which is preferably bevelled and provided with a plurality of transversely extending holes 19. Adjacent the other end 'of each of the ties 'i8 there is provided a longitudinally extending slot 8|.

The ties 18 are retained-in place and hold the front and rear upright'railsin'position by means of pins 83 and flat wedges 84. Each of the pins 83 is preferably L.shaped and is adapted, as best shown in Fig. 4, to be placed through one of the holes 79 in, one of; the ties-i8 outside .the channel member 2B. Each of'. the .wedges 84 is adapted -to be mounted. in` the, slot, 8l of one of the ties 18 and, by its wedging action, cause the rear and front rails 20 and 2| to be drawn together against the division plates 66.

The upper front .channel members or rails'22, the flat webs 58 of vwhich form the inclined upper surface of the curb front, are held in position against the bevelled front edge portions 61' of the division plates 66 by metal U-clampslll. Each clamp comprises `a horizontal base k88 vand two depending legs S9 and 90. The leg-B9 is disposed substantially vertically to the base 88 while the other leg 9S extends from the base .at an obtuse angle which is preferably the same as the angle formed with the base by extending the bevelled edge portion of one of the plates 66. In using the U-clamps 87 the rails 22'are placed in position with their lower' edges resting on thetops of the lower front rails 2| and'inclined rearwardly so as to rest against the bevelled edges 61 ofthe division and spacing plates 66. 'The U-cl'amps are placed over the tops of the rails 20 and 22 with ,a block 92, preferably of wood or other resilient material, placed under the end of 'the'inclined leg 9i! of each clamp `and restingagainst theouter face of the web 58 of the rail 22. The clamps are driven down. Since the rear, .verti- .c ally disposed legs 8!) engage the depending edges 26 of the back rails 20 and the Vinclined legs. 90 vare sprung outwardly by the .blocks 92 as they move downwardly, the U-clamps will `securely hold the rails in place.

In erecting or setting up curb forms as labove described, the following procedure has been found convenient although other sequences of steps may be used. A rear channel member or rail 29 and a lower front rail 2| are placed in upright spaced position and division plates 68 are placed between them at suitable intervals with the blocks 'Il thereof resting on the top of the rail 2.0. .A plurality of stake holder brackets 52 are mounted along the length of the channel'member .2| at appropriate points. Ties 18 are then pushed through the alined slots 'I4 and 'I6 and a pin83 is run through one of the transverse holes 'I8 in the rearwardly extending end of each. of the ties.

The holes. in whichthepins are placed yare so y tive displacement.

animee f tieis-givenV a thin coating of grease before as- ,Semblyf L f i When onegsection ofthe curb form has been thus assembled, additional-railsoland r2| may .be joined to the assembled rails by insertingvthe y1n^-ojecting-end blocks 3| and .48, respectively,.of .the additional rails inthe channels of the positioned rails and driving the ends of the rails into contact. The end blocks 3| and 48 lock the abutting rails togethery and insure against their rela- The newly rpositioned rails may then be laterally spaced by plates 66 Vand clamped together with ties .18 as described above, and the process ofv assemblingsectionsof ,the forms may be continued in the same manner until a form of desired length has been provided.

The assembled form members are now alined and securely anchored in the desired position by driving stakes or spikes 36 through the alined holes 34 in the rearwardly projecting ilanges 24` and v of the rear channel member 2|] and V4through the loops 56 ofthe stake holderbrackets 5,2 that ajre adjustably mounted on the front flower rails 2 The upper front rails'22 are then` Concrete may then be poured in the mold pros vided by the assembled forms.

removed to permit taking off the upper front channelvl members 22 so'thatthe,upper'front and top ofthe curb surface maybe smoothed and iinished vwhile theconcrete'is stillfresh., YAfter the concrete has become thoroughly set the wedges 84 are driven out of the slots 8| in the ties 18 and the ties may be pulled out of the concrete, the grease coating thereon preventing bonding of the concrete to the tie. The rear rail 20 and the lower front rail 4| are released by pulling up the stakes 36 and a suitable tool may then be placed in the holes 69 in the ears 68 of the division plates 66 and the plates may be pulled vertically from the molded concret-e. It should be noted that the plates 66 serve not only to space the rails of the forms, but also to provide expansion joints at intervals along the length of the curb.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the concrete forms of the present invention are extremely convenient and eicient. Since the rails 20, 2|, and 22 are provided with interfitting blocks at their ends, the forms may conveniently be extended as desired. The assembled forms are rigid, are easily assembled to construct the concrete mold, and may be rapidly stripped from the concrete after it has Set. Because of their channel construction, the rails are durable and are resistant to bending and warping. As will be seen, the ties 18, being provided with a plurality of holes 19, may be employed with division and spacing plates of various widths where it is desired to construct curbs of different thicknesses. The rails and form sections constructed therefrom may be of any convenient length. In many cases form sections of various lengths will be combined to provide the necessary length of curb between driveways and the like.

When the con-A .crete has partially set the UL-clamps 81 may be It -will be understood that, the construction described, and; illustrated ,in ,the accompanying A.drawings Vrepresents only a single embodimentvof the invention and that numerous modifications and'lvariations in theconstruction may Vbe made without departinggfromihe vspiritvcf` the invention. It-will also be understood that, although the foregoing descrip-tion has made kreference to the use of the novel forms of the invention; only in vconnection with the construction of curbs, 'the forms may be used in moldingl concrete for other similar purposes. It is accordingly tov befunderstood that the invention `isfnot to belcons-idered limited to the embodiment described-.andillustrated, but isV to be construed'broadlyqand limited only as made necessary by the `appended claims. I .Clam f 1.1Inva form section y,forconcrete curbs yand the like havinga back rail, a lower front rail, and an upper front rail,=a pluralityofspacing plates transversely arranged between said back rail and said front railsthe upper front edge of each of said plates being bevelled,.meaI.1S holding said lower yfront rail` and said back rail in contact with opposite edges of said plates,v stakes o engaging said back rail and adapted to be driven into the ground, each of said rails being channel shaped and having an elongated web and an outwardly extending longitudinal flange on each side of said web, the free edges of said anges on reach rail being turned inwardly in spaced facingzlelation, the combination therewith of means for locking a substantially identical form section thereto in end-abutting relation, Ameans for anchoring said lower front rail to the ground, and means for holding said upper front rail inclined against the bevelled upper front edges ofl said transverse spacing plates, said locking means comprising a plurality of end blocks, one ofA said vblocks being secured in the channel of each of said rails and having a portion projecting longitudinally from the end thereof, said blocks having the side edges of said longitudinally extending portions bevelled at their ends, said anchoring means comprising a channel-shaped stake holder bracket comprising a web, a vertical flange extending rearwardly on each side of said web. and an elongated, vertically disposed loop extending outwardly from the front of said web and carrying a stake, each of said vertical flanges being provided with a'transverse notch in the top and in the bottom thereof, said notches being sldably engaged with the inwardly turned edges of the flanges of said lower front rail, and said holding means comprising a Ucla1np-liaving a horizontal base, a vertically depending leg engaging the outer portion of said bacl rail, an inclined depending leg arranged at anobtuse angle to said base, and a resilient block engaging the channel in the outer face of said upper front rail and the free end of said inclined leg of said clamp.

2. In a form section for concrete curbs and the like having a back rail, a lower front rail and an upper front rail, a .plurality of spacing plates transversely arranged between said back rail and said front rails, the upper front edge of each of said plates being bevelled, means holding said lower front rail and said back rail in contact with opposite edges of said plates, stakes engaging said back rail and adapted to be driven into the ground, said lower front rail being channel shaped and having an elongated web and a forwardly extending longitudinal flange on each side of said web, the free edges of said anges b eing turned inwardlyini spaced facingwrelation,

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Aeach of saidyertipal'anges being provdedwith altra'nsverse Vnotch-in th `top and in the'bottom 1 thereof; 'said notches being slidablyv lengaged with ftheinwardlyjturned edges inf-the flanges-of said loiiveifront rail-` and; said holding-v means comhyertically depending leg engaging th'b'uter poritlniof'saii `kfrailainclned f depending leg imperi-nommand theffrige-ndf'pf said:

inember'fhavingla' web and a' laterally 'extending thconibi-nation 'therewith' of `means for 'anchor- AViiig saivzlffron't vrail,VA saidanch'oiing means cornpiiisingfaehannellike stake holder braket'havving a'lloop'fadated to receive a 'stake and aplu- -ralityofupper-ard lo'we spaced slots slidably enfio member vbeing channel-shaped and having an jposed loon'projecting outwardly' from thel front fgceive" a stake, V:and @vertical ange extending `*rearwardly"jon each side of Asai'd"brack'e`t web, each ofsaid braolfget a'nges being provided .with :Kttransverse notch 'in the top and in the' bottom thereof, "said notches "receiving the' -irnir'aiily turned edges of `said first' mentioned' flanges whereby ,salti bracket Slidably sfgagaid ,191111 M-*Keten holder bracket adapted t0 beused with` afchainelled"concrete form"ni embe, said bracket'ompr'isins'ia web',A @Vertical 'frarge"s=X tendinerearwagrdly `Qn ealchsde or lsaid web; and anelpngated. YertiQally" disposed Arigid loop nro,- iecting 'outwardIy'from .the front ,of said yweb, eah'oi. said flanges b eingprovided `with a transverse notch inl thetop and in the'bottom' thereof, said notches being located inthe same plane arid being adapted for engagement with said 'conci-'ete form member to permit slidable mounting'of said bracketthereon. l. Y A

' FRANK TORREILI.

REFERENCES CITED 

